Running away from home....

Yes, I ran away from home. I was trying to just chill, but of course the builders next door had other plans for me. They banged on that wall non-stop for over 40 minutes. By that time, everything was annoying me. My hair, the country, everything.

I immediately phoned for a hair appointment. If there's something that chills me down, it is having my hair done. There is just something about letting someone else take care of you that just makes you relax.
I grabbed a taxi and went down to the Hair Workshop in Hanoi Towers.

The girl who washed my hair had the longest nails known to man. It felt like she was trying scrub my scalp. Normally when they put the conditioner on, they massage your scalp for a few minutes. Oh no.......i did not get that treatment.
By the time she finished, my blood pressure had gone up a notch or two.
She then asked me very friendly if i wanted coffee or tea. I was just a bit snippy with my response.

I was not chilling down here. They cut my hair and I was irritated by that. The whole place was just irritating me. At least my hair is short again.
I then jumped in a taxi to go grab moooney, and go to Nha Tho. I wanted Tapas and to just chill. I neeeeeded to chill.
First the money. I go to the ANZ bank atm. I have an ANZ card. The account is at the very bank the ATM is situated. Machine tells me issuer of card not available. Hey??????
I try again - remember you need cash in Vietnam. Again. This issuer dude is nowhere to be found.

After swearing in all languages i know, including body, I tried the next machine.
Finally, something works. I get the money and then strolled down Le Thai To.

I have been meaning to go into the monument/temple dedicated to king Ly Thai To, so today I did it. Inside people were very busy praying. It is quite beautiful and peaceful inside.
After playing tourist, I then waddled over to Nha Tho where I have now bogged down at La Salsa.
I have got wine, I have got tapas, I have internet.
I'm good. :)
FINALLY. Finally, I'm relaxing and putting the day's irritation behind me.

I have phoned my next door neighbour who will be joining me shortly. Then I can chat away the rest of the evening......

Till I blog again!

Lazy winter days....

It's supposedly winter here in Hanoi. Strange how it feels like a late summer's day in Cape Town! :)

I realised this week that in the 6 months that I have been in Vietnam, I think I'm still working on my first 100 photo's. My cousing went to Zanzibar for one week and came back with nearly 600 photo's. Hmmm........

So, this morning I took my "old" Canon Powershot A620 and took a leisurely stroll around Truc Bach lake. I took pictures of just about everything. I will be uploading the pics to my Picasaweb site under the entry "Around Truc Bach Lake". Have a squiz!
I have promised myself that for my last month, I will choose a spot in Hanoi and spend 10 minutes taking pictures of everything, every day.

I am no photographer by any stretch of anybody's imagination, but I would like some photo's to wrap up my memories of living in Hanoi for half a year.

Min dae, as they say! Now suddenly I want to squeeze in trips left right and centre! My first trip is planned for the 8th of December, which is to Halong Bay.
Next would be a trip up north. I have yet to decide between two trips, so watch this space.

Tomorrow is the Hanoi International Woman's Club Festival Charity bazaar here in Hanoi. It will be held at UNIS school and I will be working at the South African Embassy table. I cannot wait! It's going to be soo much fun! :)
If anybody's in Hanoi tomorrow - come join in!!!

Till I blog again!

Being weird in Vietnam

Yes, i know the blog was nearly declared deceased.But tonight, I have something to share. Something that amused me. :)
I came home starving.....but, I also felt like having an easy stroll. I have been struggling with a stomach that's not well, so it was going to have to be a nice, easy, slow stroll......I strolled down to Papa Joe's and had supper.

After supper I decided to gently continue this very enjoyable stroll.I must've been about 100 m from Papa Joe's when I noticed bikes bearing down on me.
On the sidewalk.
Yes. You read correctly.

That's when i noticed that in the double lane road, the very busy double lane road next to the lake, there was this huge branch blocking off the one lane.It basically stuffed up traffic good.....which would be why the bikes decided to use the sidewalk.
I decided to do what I would do at home. Move the branch. I went over and started dragging on it. Damn, branch is heavier than anticipated. Okay. Time to get serious. I took my handbag off of my shoulder and put it somewhere reeeeelatively out of reach (eeeeek!!!), and then got down to business.
I lugged that branch onto the sidewalk......nearly taking out a bike in the process. Yes, a bike on the sidewalk! Feeling quite good about myself......good deed for the day and all that.....I went back to fetch my handbag. As I bent down to pick it up, this bike stopped next to me and this French guy asks me, Are you okay...do you need assistance? I was a bit taken aback, to say the least.....I just grinned (i was feeling good!), and said, No, I just moved the branch. I'm fine.
His comment? Why?
Why?What does he mean WHY? This is what I must be doing wrong. I saw people looking at me, but I assumed it's in absolute adoration.........uhm.......... i mean thankfulness..........now I realise that they just thought me very, very weird.All I could come up with was, "well it was either move the branch or get run over by a bike".
Oh well, it's fun being weird in Vietnam!Till I blog again!